Pets at Home is considering a plan to spend £8m on stockpiling pet food and other products in case Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.

The UK’s largest pet retailer, which has just reported a strong Christmas performance, stated: “As we approach our financial year end and monitor the Brexit process, we may consider increasing our inventory holding by up to £8m.”

The group has in the past warned that 17% of its goods come from outside the UK, and said its stock supply could be disrupted in the event of delays at ports and borders under a no-deal Brexit scenario. 

The latest move comes as many other businesses have been stockpiling goods in preparation for a calamitous no-deal Brexit.

Pets at Home has been boosted by strong sales in its retail business in the run up to Christmas, with the Saturday before Christmas being its biggest trading day ever. 

The retailer also reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.1 per cent in the third quarter to the beginning of January compared to the same period last year.

It said it was on track to deliver its full-year targets, expecting profits to come in between the previously lowered guidance of £80million to £85million.

It comes as Pets at Home issued a profit warning in November and launched a radical overhaul of its veterinary division.